Staying competitive in the food industry means always knowing what’s on the
horizon. A few years ago, customers started clamoring for gluten-free
snacks. Recently, there’s been a rise in the precedence of food delivery
apps as people want their food quickly and conveniently. Chickpeas and
their byproducts have had a resurgence into the spotlight. The list goes on
and on.

That’s all great information to know, but what’s next? Getting ahead of
future trends will position your concession stand, snack bar, or other
food-based business to wow customers. And of course, your establishment
needs to maintain a high level of customer service and culinary prowess to
stay afloat. Having
food business insurance
as a strong financial foundation will give you the courage to experiment
with new fare.

Luckily, Whole Foods gives culinary-minded entrepreneurs a good jumping-off
point for
exploring food trends. The grocer has predicted plenty of exciting things for next year. Let’s
take a closer look at four of them.

Superfoods to the Rescue

It’s well known that smoothie and
juice bars have taken off in recent years. If your establishment has decided to dip
into fruit- and veggie-based drinks, consider upping your
super powder offerings. There are even delicious ways to incorporate healthful superfood
powders into hot drinks, baked goods, snacks, soups, and salads! Chances
are, your customers will appreciate the option to give their order a
boost—for a slight fee, of course. Acai, maca root, goji berry, matcha tea,
turmeric, and chia seed are just the beginning.

Plant-Based Diets

More and more people expect food businesses to offer
plant-based options
nowadays. Limp meat substitutes and “rabbit food” are out. Thanks to
advances in engineering, meatless products are now able to imitate the real
deal better than ever. Dairy-free products can still maintain a rich
creaminess with nuts. There are seafood substitutes galore, from tomatoes
to chickpeas. Incorporating an array of plant-based foods will make
vegetarians, vegans, and health-conscious customers very happy.

Crisped and Baked, Not Fried

Forgoing serving fried foods doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor, as it turns
out. People everywhere are putting down the oil, but not their favorite
foods—
even French fries! The Whole Foods report predicts popped and puffed snacks will be all the rage next year. Consider adding these guilt-free treats to your product
lineup sometime soon.

Fizzy Drinks

You may have noticed an uptick in people drinking from pastel cans lately.
Move over, soda. There’s a new beverage in town. The
LaCroix craze of recent months is only poised to get bigger, with people searching for
more fizzy beverages to try. This year also saw
soda taxes
cropping up around the U.S., which could be spurring the exodus to fizzy
water.

Beverages are much more than just a way to quench thirst; they’re an art
form. Offering an appealing array of canned, bottled, and custom-made
beverages is a big draw for customers. It may even be what differentiates
you from the place down the street serving only flat water or pop.

Whether you stick with your tried-and-true menu or expand next year, make
sure your food business is covered by liability. A good Business Owners
Policy also protects against property damage from natural disasters and
theft.
Start with a free quote
from CoverHound!